Power-transmitting mechanism.



W. C. BAKER. POWER TRANSMITTING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IIAR.11, 1912. RENBWED MAY 9, 1914.

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W. C. BAKER.

POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED 111111.11, 1912. RBNEWED MAY 9.1914.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE,

WALTER C. BAKER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

POWER-TRANSMITTING MECHANISIVI.

Application led March 11, 1912, Serial No. 682,351. Renewed May 9, 1914.

To all 107mm it may 00m-ern Be it known that I, WALTER C. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahogay and State of Ohio, have invented certain neuY and useful Improvements in and Relating to PoWer-Transmitting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in power transmitting mechanism. More particularly it has to do with the mounting of worm gear driving mechanism.

It has for its object to provide for the eilicient and durable mounting of a worm and worm gear, more particularly where the worm gear drives suitable differential mechanism for imparting di'erential motion to two alined, shaft sections, such for example as are used in drive aXles for motor cars.

Another object of my invention is to provide against the lubricant working out of the chamber in which the power transmitting gearing is mounted and being discharged from the outer 'ends of the axle tubes.

For the purpose of illustrating m invention I have selected and hereina er described several constructions embodying it.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an axle housing and driving mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the aXle, axle housing and driving mechanism, somewhat enlarged. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section illustrating the bearings for the rear end of the drive shaft. Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Fig. 3 illustrating modifications of the invention. Y

1n the drawings, 2, 3, indicate respectively the shaft sections ofc. the divided driven shaft with the outer ends of each of which a wheel has driving connection. The inner contiguous ends of the shaft sections are connected by a compensating gearing of any approved construction. That which is illustrated in the drawings comprises the bevel wheels 5, each having a driving connection with the inner end of one of said shaft sections,and the bevel pinions 6 between the bevel wheels, mounted u on a shaft 7 which is supported in the dil erential housing 8. The latter has detachably connected to it a worm gear 9 with-Which meshes the worm 10 uponthe drive shaft 11. The worm 10 is illustrated as suitably broached and the drive shaft 11 is corre- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

' Patented sept.. e, Tara.,

Serial N0. 837,581.

ential gearing are so supported that they may as a unit be easily removed from the housing 12. To this end the shaft sections 2 and Spare easily separable from the gears 5 and capable of being withdrawn endwise from the sleeves 39 through which they eX- tend, and the differential gearing is mounted upon a support that is separable fromthe other parts of the framework of the vehicle. This support consists of a lcap piece 13 adapted to be secured to the housing l2, and to close the opening thereinto through which the transmission gear is inserted and removed. The gear support and bearing piece 13 is preferably an integral casting, suitably shaped, and is secured to the housing 12 by bolts 14. It is formed with pillow blocks or rests 15 in which are mounted the supporting bearings 16and the thrust bearings 17 which directly support the sleeveY portions 19 of the dierential housing 8, and indirectly the inner ends of the driven shaft sections. These bearings may be of any suitable type of anti-friction bearing, for illustration the ball bearing type is shown. They are held in place by the cap pieces 18 secured to the pillow block portions 15 of the removable section, 13, of the gearing housing or case. The sleeves 19 of the diderential housing ring are preferably stepped, and the supporting bearings 16 occupy the inner and higher-that is, more remote from the axis of rotation-steps, while the bearings 17 occupy the out-er and lower step-s. An

adjusting' ring 20 for setting each thrust j bearing 17 as well as permitting lateral adjustment of the housing 8 and worm gear 9 is employed and has screw-threaded engagement with the pillow blockv or rest 15 and the cap 18, as indicated in the drawing. The rest 15 and cap 18 constitute a supporting ring. A lock of any preferred kind, as indicated at f 21, is .employed for holding the adjusting rin in place. The housing 8 may be adjusted shaft sections 2 3.

The removable'ca y piecel of the h ousing-is provided wit ay palr of opposlt'ely exten-ding hubs, 22 and 23, J1n a inement with each other and disposed to receive the dr'ife shaft 11. The outer end of this shaft lies within the hub 22 which is closed by a dust cap 24. Anti-friction bearings 25, preferably of the yball type, are mounted within the hub 22 and support the outer end of the drive shaft 11which latter is screwthreaded to receive a nut 26 that is employed for' effecting the proper relation between the worm 10 and the bearing 25. rllhe worm :antifriction bearing for the drive shaft.

which is arranged within' the hub23. lt, like the bearing 25, is longitudinally adjustable to alimited extent in its support, and may be of any suitable construction. lt engages with the sleeve 28, at one end.

rlflie thrust bearings for the drive shaft are mounted within the hub 2,3, where they are confined by the nuts 29 and 31 and a cap 32 which closes the end ofthe hub with which it has a screw-threaded connection so as to be adjustable. The cap i's held in the positions to which it may be adjusted by a lock 33, and is provided with a gland 34 surrounding the shaft. The thrust bearing consists of a ring 35, carried by the lsleeves or collars 28', 28a and being preferably clamped therebetween as indicated in Fig. 3 two rings, 36, 36, supported by the hubl23, and sets of balls, 37. The inner 'ring 36, is supported by a shoulder 38' formed within thehub 23, and the outer ring, 36, is su ported by the adjustable cap .32. lt will e seen, by reference to the drawings and from the foregoing description, that the worm 10 canv be accurately adjusted along the axis of the shaft so as to mesh to the best ad-I vantage with the worm gear 9 .and then be secured and supported' to run with the least possible friction.` Y I f ln Fig.` *4 there is illustrated a slightl diderent mounting for the driving shaft 11 within the hubl or. extension 23. 1n this modification l employ oppositely disposed antidriction bearings, or a double bearing, o erating both for the purpose oftalring t e load and the thrust.- ln this example 35 is a double surfaced inner bearingD element. 36', 36 are the races and 37 the alls. 2 8. is a. Icollar or sleeve with which the nut 29 engages. Any undesirable lost motion in the innermost bearing of this pair of bearings may be taken up b adjustment of the nut-,29, whereas such un esirable lost motion between the parts of the outermost bearing of pair may be taken up by adjustment of the cap 32.

the embodiment of my invention just well known manner. axle tubes are reduced as indicated at 39' Limone described in place of the opposed anti-friction ball bearings it will be understood that suitable anti-friction roller bearings may be employed as illustrated in Fig. 5.

39, 39, indicate sleeves or tubes surrounding the driven shaft sections 2 and 3. rllhese are stationary being supported at their inner ends by the housing 12 and at their outer ends when in use in any suitable and At their outer ends the and upon them are mounted anti-friction bearings 40, 41. On these bearings a hub 42 of a driven wheel 4 is mounted. ln order to connect the outer end of a shaft section with the hub of the wheel 4 which it drives lf-employ a clutch plate 43 secured fast to the shaft, as by a spline or key,- andfconnected with the part 44 of the `hub which is shaped to have interlocking engagement with the clutch plate. The clutch plate is easily separated from the hub so that the shaft may be taken out without disturbing the support of the vehicle by the wheels in a manner well known in the art. A cap 45 having screw-threaded engagement with the hub of the wheel covers the end of the shaft and the clutch plate and holds the latter in place in clutching engagement with the hub.

46 indicates, in a general way, a suitable ybrake mechanism interposed between the d wheel and the tube 39, but asl this forms no part of the present invention it need not be described in detail. i

lln order to provide against the lubricant or oil used for lubrication of the gearing within the axle housing running out in the tubes 39 and ultimately nding its way to the brake mechanism at the wheels and also from working its way out of the axle at the ends of the tubes 39, in any manner, I have arranged to have vsaid tubes at their inner ends drawn down yso as to closely fit around the adjacent drivenV shaft section as indicated at 39a. rlhe extreme inner end of each tube may be formed with a cup-like portion 39b surrounding .the shaft section which extends through it. A suitable packing gland may be interposed between this cup-like portion 391 and the axle section. F or illustration l have shown packing 47 arran ed between the laxle section, the shoul er 39, and the inner wall of the cu shaped portion 39h. This packing may e heldl in position in any suitable manner as by a spring 48 bearing at its inner end against the packing and at its outer end against the washer or collar 49 suitably secured in the outer end of the cup-shaped part 39".

My idea for preventing the oil or lubricant from working out along the tubes is more eective 'than any other of which l am aware and particularly-is this true where the lubricant is relatively light kand Hows readily, for` example, such lubricant as is now used in the lubrication of worm gear transmitting mechanism in drive axles or power transmitting mechanisms of the character herein described.

Instead of extending the tubes 39 inwardly into the gear casing, it will beA understood that another piece of suitably shaped tubing may be employed which though it would not be a part of the tube 39 would perform the same functions as the inwardly extending part 39a herein illustrated and described. My idea is to so reduce the space between the tube 39al and the shaft section which extends through it, that but little lubricant would find its way therethrough notstructed of more or less resilient metal are free to come and go with the inner ends of the drive shaft sections which they surround.

This application presents certain subject- -inatter in common with mv co-pending application Serial No. 794,603, led October 8, 1913, and that common patentable subject-matter of my invention l have elected to claim in the said co-pending application.'

What if claim is i. ln mechanism of the `class described,

driven shaft sections, diderential mechanism interposed between said shaft sections, a worm gear for driving said differential mechanism, a housing within which said elements are arranged, a worm arranged within said housing and in mesh with said worin gear, a loa-d bearing within/ said housing adjacentv to one end of said worm, a pair of oppositelydisposed combined load and thrust bearings` arranged within said housing adjacent to .the other end of said worm,

a drive shaft for the worm mounted in said bearings and means on said-drive shaft for clamping said bearings and worm to.

the combination of a housing, a worm gear-- rotatably mounted in said housing, a worm for driving said worm gear, a load bearing within the housing adjacent to one end of said worm,"bearings within the housing adjacent to the other'end of said worm for `taking both the load and thrust, a drive shaft for the worm mounted in said bearings, said' worm being connected to, 'said drive shaft to rotate therewith and to move longitudinally relative thereto, sleeves on said drive shaft between the ends of said worm and the adjacent bearing, said sleeves being movable longitudinally relative to said vdrive shaft, said drive shaft being screw-threaded adjacent to the points where it is mounted in said bearing, 'andnuts engaging the screw threaded portions of said .drive shaft and positioning the bearings and the worm on' said shaft therebetween.

4; In mechanism of the class described the combination of a housing, a worm gear rotatably mounted 'in said housing, a worm for driving said worm gear, a load bearing within the housing adjacent to one end of vsaid worm, bearings within the housing adjacent oto the other end of said worm for taking both the load and thrust, a drive shaft for the worm mounted in said bearings, sleeves on said. drive shaft between the ends of saidl worm and the adjacent bearing, said drive shaft 'being screwthreaded adjacent tothe points where it 4is mounted in said bearing, nuts engaging the screw-threaded portions of said drive shaft and positioning the bearings and the worm on said shaft therebetween, and a cap adjustably mounted in the casing surrounding the drive shaft and engaging the adjacent bearing for adj ustin it within the casing.

`5. A housing, di erential driving mechanism within said housing, a pair of driven shaft sections connected at their inner ends to said differential mechanism and extending in opposite directions through said housing, axle tubes surrounding said drive shaft sections, connected to said housing and extending freely into the interior thereof, the inner section of each tube being free to move within the housing and reduced in diameter to closely fit about the drive section which is normally extended through it, and packing interposed between .the inner end of said tube and the said drive shaft.

6. A housing 'for a power transmitting mechanism comprising an enlarged central section adapted to receive the power transmitting gearing and tubes extending in either direction from said housing and also into the housing, the inner section of each of said tubes being free to move Within the housing and reduced in diameter to closely fit about the drive shaft which is to extend through it, and an annular packing afrranged in the inner end of each of said tubes. l f

7. A housing for a power transmitting mechanism comprising an enlarged central section adapted to receive the power transmitting gearing and tubes extending in either direction from said housing and also into the housing, the inner section of each of said tubes being free to move within the housing and reduced in diameter to closely it about the drive shaft which is to extend through it, and at its extreme inner end being enlarged to form a packing cup, and an annular packing arranged in said cup.

8. ln a mechanism of the class described, a housing, differential driving mechanism Within said housing, a pair of driving shaft sections connected at their inner ends to the said diderential mechanism and extending ed the @d in oropnsite directions through said housing,

axle tubes surrounding said shaft sections, connected tosaid housing and extending freely into the interior thereof, the inner end of each tube being free to move Within the housing and a lubricant guard interposed between the said inner end of each tube and f said drive shaft and longitudinally movable relative to said drive shaft, anti-friction bearings adjacent to the outer ends oit said longitudinally movable sleeves, and means carried by said drive shaft for positioning said worm, sleeves and anti-friction bearins thereon. Y.

in testimony whereof l aix my signature, inthe presence of two witnesses.

` VVdUllER C. BAKER.

Witnesses: FRED C. Donn, lEnWARn lit. ALEXANDER.

with said Worm gear, sleeves at either si e of said Worin on the 

